Check out the reports and pictures from our members and friends in the forums (Sightings) and the Gallery click on Transits

Divx video from the AAL observation site. Thanks to our member Georges Kessler!

A special thanks to all the people involved!

1) A rare phenomena

Venus will undoubtedly put it's mark in astronomy's history books when it passes in front of the Sun on June 8. 2004.
A Transit of Venus is indeed so rare, that the last passage occurred as far back as 1882.
As the chronicles tell us, we owe the first prediction of this rare phenomena to Kepler in 1631.
However, the first observations were made by Horrocks and Crabtree during the transit of December 4. 1639 from Hoole in England.

Nowadays, the astronomical unit has been fixed by sending powerful radar pulses to Venus and measuring the time
it takes for the waves to bounce back to Earth. That distance is now known to be 149.597.870 Kms.

The transit of December 6. 1882 was also the first one enabling the general public to participate either indirectly via the press or by observing in its own right.
This year's transit can be watched entirely on our globe from China to Westen Europe, thus involving a large part of the world's population.
The next transit will take place on June 6. 2012. However it will not be observable from Luxembourg. After that there will be no more until 2117.

2) Important safety warnings

When it comes to observing the Sun or a Transit, uncompromising safety measures have to be taken to avoid harm to your eyes:

a) Visual observation : Only with special eclipse shades ( do not use those ones you still have from the 1999's solar eclipse because it does no more protect you properly )
b) Protect your front lenses of binos or telescopes with a specially coated film ( transmission 1/100.000 )
c) Use special tools like " solar scope "
d) Use special solar telescopes equipped with H- alpha filters.

3) The observation program of the Astronomes Amateurs du Luxembourg (AAL) in partnership with the "Musée d'histoire naturelle"

Our club will set up it's public transit observatory beside the chapel of St. Donatus between Beidweiler and Eschweiler on June 8. 2004 from 06:30 A.M. on. Amongst the different instruments there will be solar shades, specially protected binos and telescopes.

The general public and media are welcome to share with us this event. No specific knowledge is required to participate.

Due to the size of Venus, the planet can be seen with solar shades already. It's size will be 57.8" or roughly 1/30 of the sun's diameter.

Main telescopic events will be the determination of the first contact, the second contact with the mysterious black drop effect, third contact and finally the fourth contact. Herafter the main transit data ( all times in Central European Sunlight Saving Time ):

Relying on statistical documents, the transit date will precede a spell of usually cool and clouded weather taking place before the summer solstice. There might be a fair chance to observe this historic event, at least partially.